Communication system and method, information processing terminal and method, and information processing device and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a communication system and method, an information processing terminal and method, and an information processing device and method which enable simple and secure restricted access. When a PDA 11 is brought close, a reader 2 of a personal computer 1 reads a device ID form an IC tag 12. The personal computer 1 registers device IDs on a connection permission list, and permits only devices registered on the list to connect. When being instructed to perform accessing, the PDA 11 controls a communication unit to access the personal computer 1 and to transmits its device ID. The personal computer 1 determines whether or not the transmitted ID is registered on the connection permission list, and permits the connection when determining that the ID is registered. The present invention can be applied to various information processing devices such as a personal computer and a PDA.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A communication method, comprising:
 acquiring, by a first apparatus, a device password from a second apparatus by using contactless communication, wherein the device password is different from a device address that is uniquely set in the second apparatus; 
 requesting to establish a wireless connection by transmitting, using a wireless communication different from the contactless communication between the first apparatus and the second apparatus, the device password obtained using the contactless communication; 
 verifying information indicating the device password transmitted using the wireless communication; and 
 establishing the wireless connection when the information is verified, 
 wherein the device password is acquired by the first apparatus when the second apparatus is positioned nearby the first apparatus; 
 wherein the device address is acquired by the first apparatus from the second apparatus when the second apparatus is positioned nearby the first apparatus; 
 wherein the second apparatus has an IC tag containing the device password; and 
 wherein the first apparatus can write predetermined information on the IC tag of the second apparatus. 
 
     
     
       2. The communication method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wireless connection is established based on the device address. 
     
     
       3. The communication method according to  claim 2 , wherein the contactless communication uses electromagnetic waves that are modulated by an ASK modulator. 
     
     
       4. An information processing apparatus, comprising:
 a communication unit configured to communicate with another information apparatus; 
 a processor configured to
 acquire a device password from the another information processing apparatus by using contactless communication, wherein the device password is different from a device address that is uniquely set in the second apparatus; 
 request to establish a wireless connection with the another information processing apparatus by transmitting, using a wireless communication different from the contactless communication, the device password obtained using the contactless communication; 
 verify information indicating the device password transmitted using the wireless communication; 
 establish the wireless connection when the information is verified, 
 
 wherein the device address is acquired by the information processing apparatus from the another information processing apparatus when the another information processing apparatus is positioned nearby the information processing apparatus, 
 wherein the another information processing apparatus has an IC tag containing the device password, and 
 wherein the processor can write predetermined information on the IC tag of the another information processing apparatus. 
 
     
     
       5. The information processing apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the device password is acquired by the information processing apparatus when the another information processing apparatus is positioned nearby the information processing apparatus. 
     
     
       6. The information processing apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the wireless connection is established based on the device address. 
     
     
       7. The information processing apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the contactless communication uses electromagnetic waves that are modulated by an ASK modulator. 
     
     
       8. The information processing apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the information processing apparatus includes a reader configured to read information from the IC tag of the another information processing apparatus. 
     
     
       9. The information processing apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to
 determine whether a request to transmit a password to the another information processing apparatus is received; and 
 transmit the device password to the another information processing apparatus after it is determined that the request to transmit a password is received. 
 
     
     
       10. An information processing apparatus, comprising:
 a communication unit configured to communicate with another information apparatus; 
 a processor configured to
 transmit a device password to the another information processing apparatus by using contactless communication, wherein the device password is different from a device address that is uniquely set in the second apparatus; 
 receive a request to establish a wireless connection using a wireless communication different from the contactless communication with the another information processing apparatus, the received request including the device password transmitted using the contactless communication; 
 verify information indicating the device password transmitted using the wireless communication; and 
 establish the wireless connection when the information is verified, 
 
 wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the device address to the another information processing apparatus when the another information processing apparatus is positioned nearby the information processing apparatus, 
 wherein the another information processing apparatus has an IC tag containing the device password, and 
 wherein the processor can write predetermined information on the IC tag of the another information processing apparatus. 
 
     
     
       11. The information processing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the device password is transmitted to the another information processing apparatus when the another information processing apparatus is positioned nearby the information processing apparatus. 
     
     
       12. The information processing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the wireless connection is established based on the device address. 
     
     
       13. The information processing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the contactless communication uses electromagnetic waves that are modulated by an ASK modulator. 
     
     
       14. The information processing apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 request the another information processing apparatus to transmit a password; 
 receive the password from the another information processing apparatus; and 
 determine whether the password received from the another information processing apparatus matches the device password stored in the IC tag.